The Ohangwena Regional Library and
Resource Center is responsible for catering to the academic and
research needs of the people of the entire community where we call
home. Adults come to make use of our collection and the free
internet, and many educational workshops and business conferences are
held in the assembly halls. But the most important demographic we
serve are the young boys and girls of Ohangwena. It is our goal to
introduce the young students of our community to the world at their
fingertips. The local schools provide the bedrock of their academic
growth, but it is our purpose and passion to take their development
to the next level. In order to do this most efficiently, while
advancing their scholastic proficiency across the board, the Library
is now partnering with local schools to offer targeted classes in
English language and test preparation. English is the medium of
instruction in all local schools for all classes, and in order to
comprehend and succeed in all of their subjects it is vital for
students to be proficient in the language. Beyond school, those who
can communicate effectively in English will enjoy vastly expanded
career opportunities and greater functional ability in an
increasingly international and interconnected world. This makes it
all the more important to positively engage, encourage and educate
students in English at a young age.
Embracing this objective, twice a week
learners come to the library for free English and test prep classes.
While the students of the local Ponhofi School are the primary
attendees of the classes given their proximity, the classes are open
to the public and any community members are welcome to attend. Thus
far the classes ave primarily focussed on preparing the learners for
the important tests they will have to take at the end of the 10th
and 12th grades. These tests are critical for the learners
and determine their advancement forward to higher levels of
education. Unfortunately in recent years the performance of local
learners has been poor, primarily because of their struggles to
master and understand English. The challenge in addressing this
problem is two-fold. First students must have a solid grasp of the
English language, and this is primarily the responsibility of their
teachers. But secondly, the test is like any other monolithic
examination, in that to succeed one must also know the ways to
approach the test questions, the tips and tricks to understanding
what the examiners are asking, and how to answer the questions in the
most thorough manner. This is the objective of the test preparation
classes. Using the exams from previous years as the basis for the
class, each style of question the learners will face at the end of
this academic year is explored and analyzed in depth. Examples are
done together as a class so that when they sit down on exam day they
will have no surprises and will feel confident. As the classes have
progressed, the learners have begun to grasp the methods for
approaching and besting the seemingly daunting exam. It is very
encouraging to witness their growing enthusiasm and confidence,
feeling that will only grow the more we practice together. The
classes are currently running and will continue to be offered until
it is time for the learners to take the test.
Classes are held on Tuesday and
Wednesday, from 2:30-3:30 focussing on the grade 10 exam, and from
4:00-5:00 focussing on the grade 12 exam. There is no registration
necessary to attend the classes, they are open to the public and
everyone is welcome to join.
